Sunday • December 15, 2002

How city managers' paychecks stack up

By Kevin Clerici/Reporter Staff

The first act of Vacaville's newly seated City Council last week was to give Assistant City Manager David Van Kirk the city's top management position being vacated by John Thompson at the end of the year.

No one expected it would take long to find a suitable candidate.

As one city official said a few weeks ago, "There would be candidates all over the country salivating for a shot at that job."

One reason: Vacaville's compensation package offered to its top manager is tops among cities in Solano County and favorable when compared to similar sized cities throughout the state.

The venerable Thompson, who has been with the city since 1977, was paid $157,839 in base salary - the second-highest base pay for a city manager in Solano County, according to figures provided by the city as part of The Reporter's 25th Survey of Top Public Servants' Pay

But his overall compensation package rises to $241,781 when including health benefits, longevity pay, performance based pay, deferred compensation and retirement contributions.

Vallejo, the largest of the county's seven cities, pays its top manager David Martinez $188,150 in base salary. His total compensation package totals $217,990.

The City of Fairfield, however, which also serves a larger population than Vacaville, pays its City Manager Kevin O'Rourke $144,033 in base salary as part of his $176,335 total compensation package.

In Benicia, City Manager William Giuliani receives $139,296 in base pay. His total compensation package is $169,448.

Warren Salmons, Dixon's city manager receives a total compensation package of $127,239, of which $109,176 is base salary. Suisun City's manager, Steve Baker, receives a package valued at $113,099. He's paid $92,607 in base salary.

In Rio Vista, City Manager Joseph Donabed receives a total compensation package of $143,134. His base pay is $99,822.

Clearly, Vacaville's new manager will not step in and receive as handsome a package as Thompson does. For starters, Thompson is among a small category of city employees who have longevity pay, which the council eliminated in 1985.

But in his new role, Van Kirk's compensation will grow. As assistant city manager, Van Kirk was paid $115,536 in base pay. Coupled with benefits, his total compensation package was $160,515. As city manager he will earn a base salary of $155,000.

That's in keeping with the city council's commitment to attract the best of the best.

The city manager and city attorney are appointed by the City Council, and their salaries are set by the elected body. The council can remove the manager at any time.

City managers' jobs are multifaceted, but they are essentially hired to interpret and carry out Council-set policy. And to manage the city.

The salary is typically reviewed every one or two years, based on contract negotiations.

The council compares Vacaville salaries to those paid in other like-size cities in the state.

"We have always attempted to be within 5 percent of the median," said former Mayor David Fleming, a 24-year veteran of the council. "Now we aim above the median."

The goal is to keep the manager position filled for a long time.

"We don't want them poached from Bay Area cities," Fleming said. "We are driven, just like home prices, by the swelling market in the South Bay Area and the peninsula because we are in the striking distance of that region."

Vacaville's managers are eligible for an annual performance award for outstanding service. The one-time awards average $800 and are based on evaluation performance. The city pays health and dental premiums up to $7,594.

Vacaville is one of few cities in the state that currently operate from a budget with a sizable surplus, a fiscal status linked to the manager's leadership.

"Could we find cheaper people? Sure," said former City Councilman Rob Wood. "But how do we find the best? Because that is what Vacaville deserves."

Kevin Clerici can be reached at vacaville@thereporter.com.